By Tanesha Dyer, Gleaner WriterWESTERN BUREAU:
THE ST. James Parish Council will assume responsibilities at the end of April for a night shelter for homeless persons currently operated by the Committee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill (CUMI).
The Council stands ready to operate the shelter located at Albion in the parish when CUMI relinquishes its responsibility, according to Christopher Powell Secretary/manager at the St. James Parish Council.
Mr. Powell said the four inmates which the night shelter now accommodates will be housed at the St. James infirmary and will continue their rehabilitation at CUMI during the daytime.
"We will assume control of the four residents who currently stay at the shelter when it is closed. Arrangements will be made for them to be housed at the infirmary," Mr. Powell said.
LAST-CHANCE APPEAL
Last month, Joy Crooks, administrator at CUMI, said the night shelter would have to be closed by the end of April if the Council did not intervene. She cited financial constraints as the contributing factor for the closure. Mayor Hugh Solomon later announced that the Council would assume responsibilities of the shelter rather than allowing it to be shut down. The Council has obtained two containers to be converted into shelters to house street people at nights. However, Mr. Powell was unable to give details on the cost and date when the containers would be ready for accommodation. He added that speedy arrangements were being made.
"We are designing a plan to facilitate more persons with the two containers that we have acquired. I have not received the cost as yet," Mr. Powell said.
